NIB 1993 Sig P226--Collectible or Shooter?

I have a Sig-Sauer P-226 semi-auto that was purchased new in 1993 (KD). It is in the original box with factory papers, and it has never been fired. Should I keep it in the safe as a 'collectable' that might increase in value over time or should I give up on that idea and just enjoy shooting it?

Replies to my post on another semi-auto handgun forum were 4-1 in favor of shooting it. What do you folks think?

I'd recommend shooting it. Older German Sigs do tend to be valued a bit more by collectors and some shooters, but that doesn't really equate to much in the way of monetary gains. In my opinion, its more of a "if the two guns are the same price, go German" kind of mentality instead of people really paying a premium for German proofs.

On average, I'd say a used (read: shot but in good condition) German Sig would be around the $500-600 mark depending on what comes with the gun in the way of night sights, mags, and other accessories. New in box, unfired, with papers, should bring maybe a $100 premium or a tad bit more for the right buyer (in my opinion). Note that I have seen NIB German Sigs go for more, but those seemed to sit a long time before getting sold.

Honestly, I don't see these really appreciating much in price anytime soon. While it's true that they are held in a bit higher regard than the newer Exeter Sigs, there is still a fairly large number of those German Sigs in circulation so they're not really rare. Go have some fun with your gun, they're great shooters!

dcarch

April 7, 2012, 04:39 PM

Shoot it.

The Lone Haranguer

April 7, 2012, 04:42 PM

I also vote for putting it to work. :)

Onmilo

April 7, 2012, 05:12 PM

The gun is a shooter best left as an investment level collectible.
As time goes by, NIB guns increase in value up to 1000% over a contemporary fired example.

beatledog7

April 7, 2012, 06:54 PM

The gun is a shooter best left as an investment level collectible.
As time goes by, NIB guns increase in value up to 1000% over a contemporary fired example.

Down the road, if you could you buy a used but sound P226 for, say, $1000, would you instead pay $10,000 for this one?

MCMXI

April 7, 2012, 07:15 PM

I bought a NIB P225 back in '95 (made in '95) and paid around $550 for it. I bought another NIB P225 a couple of years ago that was made in '94 and I paid $600. When you do the math you'll realize that SIGs, like most firearms, are not good investments if your objective is making money from them. Short version .... SHOOT IT!!

Devonai

April 7, 2012, 07:20 PM

If guns could talk, this one would want you to shoot it. While a few of their owners may be snobs, the firearms are not. Make your pistol happy and it will make you happy.

The Lone Haranguer

April 7, 2012, 07:38 PM

The gun is a shooter best left as an investment level collectible.
As time goes by, NIB guns increase in value up to 1000% over a contemporary fired example.
I see what you did there.

IMO, the gun's collector value is not significant enough to not shoot it.

rellascout

April 7, 2012, 08:03 PM

This is a shooter. There is ZERO collector value. They made tons of these guns back then and the are making tons of them now.

If you find the right buyer who really values a older German Sig and has a hole in his or her collection you might get $800 for it.

If it was a P228 which is discontinued or a P245 it might have more collector value but even those would not fetch much more than $900.

nwilliams

April 7, 2012, 08:09 PM

I just recently bought a mid 1980's LNIB Sig P226 and it's a rare Tyson's Corner import at that and I've already put several hundred rounds through it. I also bought a holster for it and started carrying it.

Ian Johnson

April 7, 2012, 10:10 PM

shoot it! mine is an 80's made german gun, I love it

chez323

April 7, 2012, 10:51 PM

Shoot it! It was made to be shot!

BarkeyVA

April 7, 2012, 11:05 PM

I bought this unfired Sig P-226 from my friend a while back, and I paid exactly what he asked for it-$600.

I consider all of my other hand guns and long guns as "shooters." I'd like to shoot the Sig, but I felt I needed a sanity check to make sure I was not making a serious mistake by doing so.

I appreciate all of your comments.

allaroundhunter

April 8, 2012, 02:53 AM

I would say shoot it. But if you wanted to, you could probably sell it for more than $600 NIB.

theCovertone

April 8, 2012, 11:28 AM

I'd probably list it on an auction site just to see what it would bring in.... If you could get $800+, that would cover the cost of another shooter grade Sig + ammo.

Someone out there might really appreciate an unfired NIB one. Not to say you should use that as leverage to make money, but yours might be an opportunity for him.

rikman

April 8, 2012, 11:41 AM

Shoot it!

Sent from my iPhone 4s using Tapatalk

ku4hx

April 8, 2012, 12:05 PM

Street value $450-$500 depending on condition. Shoot it; it has no special value as a collector's item unless you happen upon someone looking for that particular model to round out a series or S/N collection.

BarkeyVA

July 20, 2012, 11:14 PM

Well, I finally decided to sell the Sig. After more careful examination (found a slight "smiley face" on the top of the barrel) it appeared as if my friend may have shot a few rounds through it. I got $700 for it. Now I want to look for something lightly used in the $400-500 range.

What do you think about a Glock 17? Any other full size 9mm's in that price range I should consider?

Telekinesis

July 20, 2012, 11:40 PM

Congrats!
The G17, M&P, and the XDm would all be good guns to look at in that price range.

One_Jackal

July 21, 2012, 12:08 AM

Should be able to find a Gen 3 Glock 17 for $500 plus tax. That leaves over $150 for ammo and goodies.

9mmepiphany

July 21, 2012, 12:26 AM

I think you can find LE trade-in SIG 226s for $450-$500

1KPerDay

July 21, 2012, 02:00 AM

Well, I finally decided to sell the Sig. After more careful examination (found a slight "smiley face" on the top of the barrel) it appeared as if my friend may have shot a few rounds through it. I got $700 for it. Now I want to look for something lightly used in the $400-500 range.

What do you think about a Glock 17? Any other full size 9mm's in that price range I should consider?
Yeah, a really nice German SIG P226.

;)

pat701

July 21, 2012, 09:43 PM

Take it to the range and let it do its thing, shoot it.

Rusty Luck

July 21, 2012, 10:18 PM

Shoot it.

Plan2Live

July 22, 2012, 07:06 PM

What do you think about a Glock 17?I think you made a huge mistake selling a pristine Sig and are now looking at a Glock. Fail.

BarkeyVA

July 22, 2012, 10:40 PM

I had never owned a NIB handgun like the Sig P226 and really didn't know what to do with it. Most on this site said I should shoot it, but if you re-read a similar stream about it on The Firing Line web site, there were differences of opinion as to whether I should shoot it or keep it in the safe. Some told me I'd be lucky to get $550 or $600 for it (I paid $600).

With so many P226's for sale on gun auction sites that did not appear to be selling at the price I thought was fair (There were about 400, or 22 pages, of P226'S on GUNBROKER alone!), when I had the chance to sell it for $700, I decided to do it.

I am really more interested in long guns, specifically Marlin Model 90 O/U shotguns. With the exception of the Sig I just sold, ALL of my guns, including many shotguns, a few rifles and my only two handguns, are "shooters."

When I buy another pistol it too will be a used "shooter." It might even be a Sig, although my local gun dealer/gunsmith is a real Glock fan and thinks Sig's,while good guns, are over-rated. With over 400 for sale on the web sites, most with no bids on them, he might be right. He owns several Glocks, and his carry gun is a Glock. He has commented more than once that if he had to rely on one handgun to save his life, it would be a Glock.

Regardless, I do appreciate all of your comments. And, as they say, "To each his own."